The fetus is a potential child, essentially property of the father. The payment to the father is recompense for destruction of his property.

The harm to the woman is treated the same as is intentional, unjustified harm to any person, mother or not. The “life for life” penalty punishes injuring a person. The payment for loss of the inchoate child is primarily to make the father whole financially, not to punish the actor.

James W. Conger, Jr., Bainbridge, Ga., congerj@bellsouth.net

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